Adjustment of ski bindings

ABSTRACT

The effort required to safely release ski bindings is adjusted as a function of a measurement of the muscular strength of a skier taken in at least one direction corresponding to release of a binding. A measuring apparatus comprises a plate for rotatably supporting a ski boot and means for measuring a torsional effort supplied by the skier to tend to turn the boot.

United States Patent Salomon [151 3,686,950 Aug. 29, 1972 ADJUSTMENT OFSKI BINDINGS Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, 34,

Avenue de Loverchy, Annecy (l-laute-Savoie), France Filed: Dec. 8, 1970Appl. No.2 96,058

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 24, 1965 Switzerland ..19227/69us. Cl. ..73/379 R, 73/133 Int. Cl. ..G0ll 5/02 Field ofSearch.....73/379 R, 380 R, 381 R, 133, 73/99; 280/1 1.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,228,239 l/1966 DeBeausacq.'. ..73/133 3,511,089 5/ 1970 Del Pedro ..73/l33 2,680,967 6/1954 Newman ..73/379 R 3,466,931 9/ 1969 Spackman, Jr. et al..73/380 RPrimary Examiner-Charles A. Ruehl Attorney-Emory L; Groff and Emory L.Grofi, Jr.

[5 7 ABSTRACT The effort required to safely release ski bindings isadjusted as a function of a measurement of the muscular strength of askier taken in at least one direction corresponding to release of abinding. A measuring apparatus comprises a plate for rotatablysupporting a ski boot and means for measuring a torsional effortsupplied by the skier to tend to turn the boot.

5Claims,2DrawingE'gures Patented Aug. 29, 1972 3,686,950

INVENTOR 660/8655 P J. aw/n ATTORNEY ADJUSTMENT OF SKI BINDINGSAdjustment of the effort for releasing ski safety bindings as a functionof the individual characteristics of skiers is a delicate operation forwhich numerous methods have been proposed, none of which has been widelyadopted. Indeed, no absolutly satisfactory method has yet been proposed.

Among the methods already proposed is one which consists of measuring amember of the skier and, by means of an empirical table, calculating therelease effort likely to be suitable for the skier in question. Ofcourse, this method may give satisfactory results for certain skiers,but it cannot pretend to be a general method, since the measurement istaken statically while skiing is essentially a dynamic exercise.

In practical terms, however, a measurement taken in or simulating theconditions encountered while skiing is not absolutely essential andwould in any case raise serious practical difficulties.

An object of the invention is to remedy the aboveoutlined situation in asimple and efficient manner.

According to the invention, there is therefore proposed a method forenabling adjustment of the effort required to safely release adjustablesafety ski bindings in at least one direction, comprising measuring themuscular strength of a skier in at least one direction corresponding torelease of a binding.

Preferably, after taking said measurement, the bind ing is adjusted forrelease in said direction as a function of said measurement.

In other words, the invention is based upon the principle of action andreaction, according to which the leg opposes a torsion to which itsubjected by an equal torsional effort up to a maximum limiting amount;of course, this theoretical digression is not necessary to theunderstanding, nor to the validity of the present invention.

According to an advantageous manner of carrying out the method of theinvention, a measurement of the effort that can be supplied by a skierby turning his leg about a vertical axis from the knee to the ankle ismade at a known distance from the center of rotation locatedapproximately under the heel, the skier preferably wearing ski bootsduring this measurement. Subsequently, this effort is related to thatwhich can be transferred to the retaining jaw (or retaining means) ofthe binding, using a coefficient so as to obtain the correct adjustmentof. the effort necessary to release the binding.

Advantageously, the measurement of torsional efforts which can besupplied by the skier laterally towards the right and towards the leftare taken one after the other in a single operation, the means employedfor this measurement providing indications of measurement withoutdifferentiating these two directions.

According to a variant, the skier, instead of supplying a driving efforton the measuring means, could provide a resistance against the action ofa device providing an increasing, measured effort on a ski boot or skiuntil the leg can no longer supply a sufficient effort to resist. Atthis moment, the boot would move thereby stopping action of the deviceto provide a greater effort, the device stopping with the release valueof the effort shown by indicating means.

The invention also concerns an apparatus to enable adjustment of theeffort required to safely release adjustable safety ski bindings in atleast one direction, comprising means for measuring the muscular forceof a skier in at least one direction corresponding to release of abinding.

The measuring means for this apparatus preferably comprise support meansfor at least one ski boot, means for allowing angular displacement ofsaid boot about a chosen axis of rotation, at least one stop memberdisplaceable upon angular displacement of said boot in at least onedirection, and means actuatable by said stop member for measuring thetorsional effort supplied by the skier to angularly displace the boot.

This apparatus is clearly equally suitable for measurement with toebindings having lateral release as for heel bindings with lateralrelease, simply by reversing the direction of the boot therein.

Such a method and such an apparatus also apply to adjustment of thereleasing effort of bindings in a direction perpendicular to the planeof a ski. However, for the sake of simplification, the followingdescription will be limited solely to the measurement of releasingefforts in a plane parallel to the plane of the ski.

Of course, any known devices for measuring force can be used to carryout the present invention, whether these devices are mechanical,pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrical, and with or without recordingmeans.

The invention will be better understood from the following description,made by way of example, of a particularly simple means of carrying outthe invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a device according to the invention, and

FIG. 2 is a cross-section along line 11-11 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the device comprises a support plate 1, forexample in light alloy, thick enoughv so that it cannot be deformed bythe application thereto of the weight of a person. This support plate 1can rest in a horizontal plane on cross-bars 2 fixed thereon by means ofscrews 3. A generally U-shaped cut-out 4 is provided in the plate 1 soas to house a measuring device comprising, in this example, a resilientring 5 the elastic deformation of which can be measured by means of adial comparator 25 mounted on gimbals in the ring 5. Such measuringdevices are known, and will therefore not be described in full detail.The ring 5 comprises two laterally extending feet 6 and 7 each piercedwith a hole through which pass axles 8 and 9 respectively fixed topieces 10 and- 11. The ring-shaped piece 10 has a lip 12, and therod-like piece 11 a head 13; lip 12 and head 13 serve as lateral stopsfor an end of a boot 20 placed on the plate 1 for the purpose ofmeasurement. Piece 11 is supported above the plate 1 by an antifrictionbearing 19, while the part of piece 10 adjacent lip 12 rests on thepiece 11 The axles 8 and 9 also engage in holes 16 and 17 of flat pieces14 and 15 fixed against the support plate 1 by screws 24. The holes 16and 17 could be extended into the support plate 1. Optionally, pieces 14and 15 could be omitted, if required, upon the condition that theantifriction bearing 19 upon which the piece 11 rests is retained.

As shown in Fig. 2, the holes 16 and 17 have a greater diameter than theaxles 8 and 9, the play being necessary for operation according to whichthe efforts of the boot 20 on the stops 12 and 13 are transformed intodeformation of the ring in the same direction. Of course, when the axle9 is pulled, the axle 8 must abut against the edge of the hole 16. Thisis achieved by locating the axles 8 and 9 normally off the center of theholes 16 and 17, with the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. The sole of theboot 20 rests on a turnable disc 21 and, optionally, on anti-frictionmeans 22 and 23, at least the parts 21 and 23 being interchangeable sothat the center of rotation can be located under the toe or heel of theboot. The boot sole, by turning about disc 21 in the counter-clockwisedirection, abuts against the head 13, under the action of a torsionsupplied by the skiers leg, causing displacement of the piece 11; theaxle 8 abuts against the edge of the hole 16, while the axle 9 remainsfree in the hole 17, which permits deformation of the ring 5. When thesole abuts against the lip 12, the axle 9 abuts against the edge of thehole 17 and the axle 8 is displaced in the hole 16 andcauses deformationof the ring 5.

By way of example, measurements carried out to enable adjustment of thelateral release efiort of a toe binding with the center of rotationlocated under the heel, have given, as a function of the persons inquestion, values comprised between 15 and 40 kg, this large amplitudeemphasizing the usefulness of such measurements. Additionally, thesemeasurements enable different adjustment for the right and left skibindings as a function of the difference in efforts that the skier inquestion can provide with his right and left legs.

In practice, for the adjustment of the releasing effort of a binding(either left or right), the mean reading of the torsional efforts whichcan be provided by the skier towards the right and left can be taken.

Additionally, in this case, no coefficient of correction need be appliedsince the parts 12 and 13 are located substantially in the same place asthe wings of the binding jaw(s).

Experience has shown that adjustment on the basis of such measurementsensures'adequate safety during ski- It should be noted that the skierplaces one or both feet on the support plate and measurements can betaken for all of the relative positions of the two legs. As a variant,instead of comprising a single measuring device for one boot only, theapparatus could be provided with a support plate carrying twosymmetricallylocated measuring devices enabling simultaneous testing ofthe skiers two legs. Of course, in this case gripping means, such as ahand rail, could be provided to enable the skier to hold his balance onthe support plate 1 while effecting torsional movements with his legs.

Alternatively, instead of taking the measure on the boot, it would bepossible to take it on a ski or on a skilike member fixed to the boot.In this case, all of the length of the ski would be available as alever. A correction coefficient would consequently be applied. Whateverbe the type adopted, the measuring apparatus can be directly graduatedwith a reference scale suitable for the binding in question.

In another possible embodiment of the apparatus, a measuring device witha deformable element 5 and comparator 25 could be provided on eitherside of the position occupied by a boot, each stop 12, 13 respectivelybeing connected to its own individual measuring device.

When such an apparatus is used to test the efforts involved upon, forexample, a forward fall, a retaining member must be provided to prevent(or oppose) raising of the boot heel. The measuring device would thusmeasure the effort exerted by the skier to raise his boot, anoscillating movement of the heel taking place in a vertical plane.

I claim:

1. Apparatus to enable adjustment of the effortrequired to safelyrelease adjustable safety ski bindings in at least one direction,comprising means for measuring the muscular strength of a skier in atleast one direction corresponding to release of a binding, saidmeasuring means including support means for at least one ski boot, meansfor allowing angular displacement of said boot about a chosen axis ofrotation, at least one stop member displaceable upon angulardisplacement of said boot in at least one direction, and meansactuatable by said stop member for measuring the torsional effortsupplied by the skier to angularly displace the boot.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which said measuring means furtherincludes an elastically deformable element, said element cooperatingwith said stop member so that angular displacement of the boot isopposed by elastic deformation of said element,

and means for measuring the elastic deformation of the element.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in which said support means comprisesa plate, said axis of rotation is vertical and said element cooperateswith first and second stop members between which the boot can be placed.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including first and second partsconnected to opposite sides of said elastically deformable element, saidfirst and second stop members fixed to said first and second parts,means for allowing displacement of said first stop member and first partin a first direction in relation to said support plate to cause elasticdeformation of said element while holding said second part and secondstop member fixed in relation to said support plate, and means forallowing displacement of said second stop member and second part in asecond direction opposite the first direction in relation to saidsupport plate to cause elastic deformation of said element while holdingsaid first part and said first stop member fixed in relation to saidsupport plate.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, including first and second axlesconnecting said first and second stop members to said first and secondparts, said support plate having first and second openings therein,first and second axles engaging with play in said first and secondopenings so that angular displacement of the boot in a first directioncauses said first stop member to elasti-' cally deform said element bydisplacement of said first axle in said first opening while said secondstop member is positionally held by bearing of said second axle againstan edge of said second opening, and angular displacement of the boot ina second direction opposite the first direction causes said second stopmember to elastically deform said element by displacement of said secondaxle in said second opening while said first stop member is positionallyheld by bearing of 5 said first axle against an edge of said firstopening.

1. Apparatus to enable adjustment of the effort required to safelyrelease adjustable safety ski bindings in at least one direction,comprising means for measuring the muscular strength of a skier in atleast one direction corresponding to release of a binding, saidmeasuring means including support means for at least one ski boot, meansfor allowing angular displacement of said boot about a chosen axis ofrotation, at least one stop member displaceable upon angulardisplacement of said boot in at least one direction, and meansactuatable by said stop member for measuring the torsional effortsupplied by the skieR to angularly displace the boot.
 2. Apparatusaccording to claim 1, in which said measuring means further includes anelastically deformable element, said element cooperating with said stopmember so that angular displacement of the boot is opposed by elasticdeformation of said element, and means for measuring the elasticdeformation of the element.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, in whichsaid support means comprises a plate, said axis of rotation is verticaland said element cooperates with first and second stop members betweenwhich the boot can be placed.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 3,including first and second parts connected to opposite sides of saidelastically deformable element, said first and second stop members fixedto said first and second parts, means for allowing displacement of saidfirst stop member and first part in a first direction in relation tosaid support plate to cause elastic deformation of said element whileholding said second part and second stop member fixed in relation tosaid support plate, and means for allowing displacement of said secondstop member and second part in a second direction opposite the firstdirection in relation to said support plate to cause elastic deformationof said element while holding said first part and said first stop memberfixed in relation to said support plate.
 5. Apparatus according to claim4, including first and second axles connecting said first and secondstop members to said first and second parts, said support plate havingfirst and second openings therein, first and second axles engaging withplay in said first and second openings so that angular displacement ofthe boot in a first direction causes said first stop member toelastically deform said element by displacement of said first axle insaid first opening while said second stop member is positionally held bybearing of said second axle against an edge of said second opening, andangular displacement of the boot in a second direction opposite thefirst direction causes said second stop member to elastically deformsaid element by displacement of said second axle in said second openingwhile said first stop member is positionally held by bearing of saidfirst axle against an edge of said first opening.